Got my flu shot in October and a couple days later came down with a cold. A nasty, nasty strain of cold is going around. I've been coughing for just over two months. Violent coughing at one point. So violent that I pulled a muscle in my side. Ran a fever last week and was out of work for two days. Haven't had a fever for 30 years. Have gone through two combo boxes of Day/NIght Theraflu, a bottle of Nyquil, 11 bags of cough drops, a 10-day course of Augmentin (antibiotic) that made me sicker, and finally, a 5-day course Z-pak which has nearly stopped the coughing. Saw my doctor for a six week checkup yesterday and since I'm still not 100%, he ordered a CT of my sinuses to see if I still have some kind of infection. Yep, something really nasty is going around (though I don't think it's the flu) and I'll be so happy when it's gone. Jodi-

While Harry the Perfect and Sam the Not are always current on all their shots, we keep a vigil eye on suspicious animals. A couple years ago they were attacked, through the chain-link back yard fence, by a very aggressive muskrat that had been raging through the neighborhood in an odd manner for a couple of days. He bit both dogs on their muzzles and drew blood. Of course, once we got the dogs settled down no one could locate the muskrat. I called the vet. He said to bring them in for booster shots. He said a dog should always get a booster shoot, even though he's up to date with the rabies vaccinations, anytime he's bitten by a suspicious animal. My guys, being hunters and ranging far from Wes when they're out, often a mile or more away, run into all sorts of adventures. The year of the Great Muskrat Attack, Harry tangled with two coons, three skunks, a feral cat, and outmaneuvered a rather irate coyote. After three boosters in one year, the vet said he was good for a while and even skipped the next annual shot. Sam doesn't get into as much trouble as Harry did. Harry has had to slow down; he's an Old Great-Grandpa dog now (with the heart of a 2-month-old puppy!) He's good with a 15-minute walk around the edge of a field; will point a bird or trail a rabbit for a few steps, but then he's ready to come home, all tired and happy.

Sealavender - congrats on your new little bird! He is a cutie! I have three of these little guys and they are so endearing. If you dont have much time to spend with him, you might consider another budgie so he has a pal. These guys travel in large flocks and really crave the company of other parakeets. My first parakeet (Pip) was found outside by a friend. Eventually, I bought him a buddie (Sky) and the difference in his personality was amazing! It as clear he was craving a friend. Since budgies are very active animals, I bought them a double flight cage. They use every inch of that cage. Pip passed away recently, after 8 years. I found Petuniae on craigslist, living in a very tiny cage and with a smoker to keep Sky company. Petuniae is a boy, but because of his mutation he looks like a girl. Luke was found flying around town (I named him after Luke Skywalker as he was flying the galaxy). Luke wasnt in great condition, but boy is he a cheeky little fella now. Sky: Luke, Sky, and Petuniae’s cage (I cover one side to shade from sun): Busy body Luke (right) and Sky: Tiny Petuniae: Pip and Sky: Sky: Pip and SKy were best friends (RIP Pip):

Everyone's quilts are absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I've never tried quilting... yet. :) I want to share another of my roadside wicker "saves" because it's so unusual. lol! I saw these legs at the road while on a walk one day last year and passed them by initially, but felt guilt pangs and had to try to save it. :O) The lower part of the base was shot, the toes were shot, and the top obviously had problems. lol! I was able to pull away the bad parts and (masterfully, if I must say ;^) weave in the base, new toes, and a whole new supportive "girdle" so that I could make a small tabletop for it. The original weaver did a fabulous job on the legs, so I had to save them! :)